Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks Completes First Solo Album

It's been quite a while since country music fans have heard new material from the Dixie Chicks, but that isn't going to stop the trio's lead singer Natalie Maines from singing. Maines has finished recording her first solo album, which will hit store shelves and digital retailers this spring.

Just a few weeks ago, Maines tweeted, "Happy Natalie Maines Finished Her Album Day everybody!" More than 150 of her excited followers marked her tweet as a favorite, and 100 others re-tweeted the news.

The album is titled 'Mother,' and it will be released on May 7, 2013 -- appropriately just in time for Mother's Day. Maines confirmed earlier in 2012 that her debut solo project will sound a lot more like rock music than country. 'Mother' will be Maines' first full-length project since she recorded 'Taking the Long Way' with the Dixie Chicks in 2006.

For the past few years, Maines has kept her vocal chords sharp by performing the Pink Floyd song 'Mother' with singer Ben Harper during his tours. It's likely that the country songbird named her solo album after the popular Floyd tune. She also contributed a track to the 'West of Memphis: Voices of Justice' soundtrack. The accompanying documentary explores the West Memphis Three murders and the men who were convicted of those infamous crimes.

Although Maines is excited to go out on her own, Dixie Chicks fans can rest easy. The talented singer will still play with the trio, who will replace Lady Antebellum in the lineup for the 2013 Craven Country Jamboree in Canada. Lady A singer Hillary Scott is expecting, and had to cancel the show as it's scheduled around the time of her due date.